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List of Jazz Festivals and Jazz Streets Across Japan [2026]

Jazz festivals and jazz street events held around the country are packed with the unique atmosphere and charm of each locale.

From jazz streets that take place simultaneously at multiple venues across a city to seaside and mountain stages where you can enjoy music alongside nature, the variety is endless.

Doesn’t just thinking, “Where should I go this year?” make you excited? In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of jazz festivals from different regions.

The scale and vibe vary widely, so find the events that catch your interest.

Hyogo Prefecture

Ashiya Jazz FestivalTue, 5/5 Hyogo Prefecture

This jazz festival in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture began in 2017 and will mark its 10th edition in 2026. Embraced as a free-admission event that turns the entire city into a stage—from the plaza in front of JR Ashiya Station and local shopping streets to a grand hall and even a chapel—it has become a local favorite. As an official UNESCO International Jazz Day event, the festival has received a letter of appreciation from Herbie Hancock every year since its first edition, reflecting its roots in both the local community and the wider world. Held in May during Children’s Day, it delivers a day filled with music and smiles.

ScheduleTuesday, May 5, 2026
placeHyogo Prefecture, Ashiya City, Funadocho, around JR Ashiya Station (multiple venues within the city)
Appearance
[5/5] [Multipurpose Hall] O-Jazztet / Tempo rubato / Paddy Fields / Do’ Desuka Band / color jam / SUDDENCOOL / Dan Band / SANDY EB / Ashioto / Mint Jamz [Ashiya Buddhist Hall] livestock trio / EN Crazy Dogs / Klezit / Kobe Y Project / ATB / DanZ / Fig / Go for it! Boars / Dal Paradiso [Luna Hall (Small)] BENTOS / Osaka City Funk Band / Speed Limit 180 / Naniwa Fusion Project / Sensual / SHOW-LOWs / Super Works / ClockWorkThing / Acid ICE / A♭ / Takuya Hirai TRIO / BLACK CANDY [Luna Hall (Large)] Hyogo Prefectural International High School HOPPIN’ NOTE / Konan High School & Junior High Plus Ensemble KBE2026 / Edwin & Mike Duo / Wi-Mo / Osaka Swing Lab / Drinkin’ Wonders / Shiho Akagi Serie AK Special / Stevie Silver & The Westsiders / Haruko’s Yuming Band / Osaka Victory Choir / Beers In Heaven / Chitaro BLUES JACK / The Three Wishes / VERMILION FIELD [Lead Ashiya] Breeze / Club-SQUARE / Molly Lane / Mellow Tone / C.S.B Falcon / Cotton Spinners / Uncle Sammy / Tomoaki Okudaira with Friends / NYNY Quartet / Akki, Yushi, Tetsu / Yume☆Chance / AI☆HOUSE / TAKE★FIVE / Fox Biyori Band [Catholic Ashiya Church] amapola / Not-Only-Sax Ensemble Nikoni ko / nao & Taichi / com bossa / Shino Ayane / Gloria Matsuda / Wang Yemin / MONDIEU [EJ] fan dii na / DAS / LUNA with friends / Pink Peppers / The Natsumerose / E.Hearts / BEAT-LUZ / @gray zone / Elephants / KIIT Jazz Project / Fusion Rewind / Osaka Pochi-Pochi Orchestra 51/2026 / Ashiya BBQ Club Band [Satsuma Fuji] JAZZ Joto / Noboru Kitahashi Ark of note / HY!HAT / Crimson5 / macska / mini me / narumi & hiro / Reflection / Anns / Nanatsuboshi / buvetts / Sugarloaf / Kuno Takayoshi / JACKY [Rio Coffee] Feliz / kinoshita / Poporipo / Norakura Pawn / HummingBird / Sunset Cocktail / Four Sparrows [Sacle Ev] Apple and Honey / Lumière / Very Berry / AMIG / Cocodrilo / Mille-feuille / Nao Oyama & Tadahiko Kudo DUO / Kyoko Ogusu & Jun Deguchi / Yoko and Hiroshi [TBDB] Amatan / Pokin Kintaro / Bourbon Life / Naosaka Ii Sinatra Tribute / Ok-kun / Mitsuharu’s Singing with Brothers / Gon, Ante & Myu / Mint Tea / DEPARTURES / Rokko Guitar Sub Trio / agApe / Jecco. / Mamma G / kamesh [Le Coin] Keiji / Hitoshi Watanabe / mario BOSSA NOVA Satoshi Abe / hacoseco / VEGA duo / YANTOO & MABLEE / Sunset Celebration / Keiko Raspberry & Hiroshi Hata Duo / Masaya Yuasa / Iida & Kanazawa Duo [Pedestrian Deck] REJOICE / Tea Gathering / Pink Gingerale / Fool Cool Pool / Grandpa / Jo-Ja / PARA★SKA / iro. iro. iro / Cattleya / B-Groo-V / Tea Time [COTTON FIELD] Uruwaka / Riverside Diva and Acchan Piano / Tipsy Time / Satoko Shudo / naonao / Sugar Malt / Yumi Mizuno & Nobuyuki Matsuoka Duo / Emiko & Karl / Unit SUMIRE / Tateppiro / Nine-Step / Aiko Yoden / Mami Yonekawa & Mine Hida / Harumi Katakai, Kana Ando, Mayumi Miyagawa Jazz Trio
Websitehttp://www.ashiya-jazz.info/
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Kobe Shinkaichi Music FestivalHyogo Prefecture, Sat 5/9–Sun 5/10

The Kobe Shinkaichi Music Festival is one of Kobe’s largest outdoor music festivals and will celebrate its 24th edition in 2026. The venues span Minatogawa Park and the Shinkaichi shopping district in Hyogo Ward, Kobe, where a rich variety of genres—rock, jazz, folk, brass, gospel, and more—resonate across distinctive stages such as shopping arcades, plazas, live houses, and the brick-built Minatogawa Tunnel. It’s a beloved early-summer tradition that brings the whole community together, inviting people of all ages to sing, dance, and enjoy. Scheduled for May 2026.

ScheduleSat–Sun, May 9–10, 2026
placeHyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Hyogo Ward, around Minatogawa Park and the Shinkaichi Shopping Street (multiple stages)
Appearance
[5/9] [Main Stage] Risa Nakamura / Tairiku BAND / Ganseki / PINDON`z / umizora / Kyoto University Dark Blue New Sounds Orchestra / Slow’n Steady / Quncho with THE THIRD STONE BAND / Namimori Drops / Osaka Victory Choir / Modern Choki Chokies [Minatogawa Hall] Peeps Leafs / REVIVAL / THE CHOICE / Drinkin’ Wonders / Sugar Cry / Kansai Lodging Second-Years / The BoogieRockets / DREAMS CAN TRUE / Back and Tip / Gyarandou / Horumon King [Square] Tabula Rasa / Butterfly / Akawain / THE Nankuru Minaen / Yuunagi BLEND / Matsutaku / Hannibal Magdas & ERIKO / Ago-chan / Tatsuru & LINKSTONE / The Bigood! / Tsuki Tokage (Moon Lizard) / Nanchatte Blues Band [Art Plaza] Kokomi / Akiwo / Dolphin Club / Haruyo Kimura & Shingo Tsutsui / clocca / Ukulele Swing Trio / Aiken-ka (Pet Dog Section) / Rocktanz / Yumi Mizuno & Nobuyuki Funaoka Duo / Yuzuki Yuki / Kobe Higashimachi Machiai Gakudan / Cocodrilo [BIGMAN] Fairy Brass Band KOBE & KOBE CORY BAND / Funky Rabbits / Pan de Ring / OKJO / Kobe Gospel Choir Angels / Kotobuki Funk / Ikoma City Side Jazz Orchestra / JOETALK / KIKKA Ensemble / Sunfish 6-Horn Little Big Band + Manbo / Deisui Sisters Orchestra (Dead-Drunk Sisters Band) / Suga-bu [metro+] Michiyo Iwamoto / siv hav / Haidon / B.child / Utagane / Hakuryu / Acappella Group A(c) / Sunset Cocktail / Alegria / Samurai Quartet / Mr-Plumber [Minae-n Town] Amaranth / Southern Blood / WABISABI BOYS / can D alfa / MEG / The Nacometers / Super Ragtags / Takuya Hirai TRIO / Time flies / Kana Nishimura / Kongyoku 2nd / RY-U-SA ft. MasaLee / Morunekko / psk junkeys / Eggman / E.Hearts / MY HEART / Chelsea / Ukulele Toshi P / Narukan / Sarappy / Red Brothers / Rukka no Ashi / Hibino Tsuji / Getsudai / Yukino Tsuzuki / Mii & Naoto Kunieda / Kobe Sisters / Tsutomu Jii (Osamai?) / BtoC feat. Atsushi Kubota / Lele Enka Aichan / Esperanza / Pull-top Oyaji BAND / curious / The Firo [aiai] Lateefa / Kenichi Maezawa / toyo and Marco Pagot / Amashin / DEAR+BLUE Kaoru / Hagure Bossa / FUN JOVI [Marushin Market] SPICA / Large (L’arge) / SLOWHAND / Ako★Tora Tsuyoshi / YUKI & MAI / Mee Mee [Minatogawa Tunnel] Sho Fukute with Popurin / Yuko Kawashima / 461 Mont Blanc / amapola / Supreme Choux Creams / Ristorante♪Furukawa [5/10] [Main Stage] Toyonaka Dixieland Jazz Parade / The Jumble Jungle Big Band / Dirty & Poor / Kemono-ga-hara / Merci / Osaka University The New Wave Jazz Orchestra / Orange martini / Pink Ruby / Biso Yoshimura & BSB / jewel69s / Shun Kikuta Special Band / Mayo Katano / Yokoo BB [Minatogawa Hall] asano raincoat / Funky Workshop / xilinx. / Symmetric / SANA BEATS MONDAY MORNING / gvhpp project / Canary of 100 Bars / Hanis-Anika / Spacility / PINKY & COLORS / RUDE STOMPERS [Square] SHOW-LOWs / Suika (Iki-ka) / Sea Monkey / Keiko Kanda / Kisetsu*FU / THE CABE$ / Yui / MEI Club / Shinnosuke Kamikawa / Utatane Quartet / Haji & Tooru’s Blues / fruFRU acoustic band [Art Plaza] GLASS HAT / SENtoROI / Shibusawa Merumo / GYPSY VAGABONZ / Manma G / Routine / Hanjuku BLOOD / Bantan Brothers / Poet Manjiro with Nori / ERiKA⁺ / Sanshain / Kukuru [BIGMAN] Minato Winds / Naniwa Elephant & Tiger / Smiles Brass Ensemble / Soul of Surprise / Osaka Chaka Khan Selection / @tempo / Funkyou! Department Store / With Wish / Annamed JAZZ Orchestra / First Kiss / Andy & his FireCrackers / Sabomyur~u [metro+] Ramen Baba / Yuya Asanari / Chant Chant / KONISHIMIZU / Usagiya / Whistle jam / flapmole / Curious & Capricious / Swing Set / FAITH BAND [Minae-n Town] The Short Breads / Carpaccios / BAU▲CLUB / Spy no Jaiko / TAKUMA with TEN-4 / Ju-ice / YAMADA BAND / Trinity / Ashigaru Youth / Naoko / Koh / Miyu-Do-Ra-Sawa / soranaka kibunn / Tattocom / Bito Yuri / SUPYPOD / Kaika Gakuon-za / Yankurunaisa / Bombe Hiroshi / THE Double Punch / Injera / KishiTomo / Mikeneko Meiju / Jecco. / Trip Harmony / ESPOIR / Keiko Fuji Legend Triad / Elepin / Motomachi Romance / Soleil / Ai @ Vanilla Ice / AiSeiKen / Yuki / Miyukito / DEJAVU [aiai] Miho Nagae / Nanosh / ORI×AI / Mille-feuille / Pino / Erika Fujii & Akitomo Araki / Superfunny [Higashiyama Shopping Street] JAZZ Session [Marushin Market] CP Girls / Uta-ne Biyori / StrawberryMoon / Shinya Onishi / Sanpogatera / Takai-chan
Websitehttps://ongakusai.shinkaichi.or.jp/
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Spring Jazz CruiseSunday, 5/31, Hyogo Prefecture

ScheduleSunday, May 31, 2026
placeHyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, Kobe Harborland
Websitehttps://sjckobe.com/
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Kita-Shin Jazz LiveSunday, 6/7, Hyogo Prefecture

ScheduleSunday, June 7, 2026
placeArima Hall, Kita-Shin Ward Cultural Center, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
Websitehttps://www.kobe-bunka.jp/event/jazzlive-3/

Shiga Prefecture

Otsu Jazz FestivalShiga Prefecture, Sat 10/3–Sun 10/4

ScheduleSaturday, October 3–Sunday, October 4, 2026
placeOtsu, Shiga Prefecture; Yumihama; Otsu Lakeside Nagisa Park Festival Plaza; and others
Websitehttp://otsu-jazz.jp/
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Tottori Prefecture

Tottori JazzTottori Prefecture, Tue 4/28–Sat 5/2

Tottori JAZZ is a signature jazz festival of Tottori Prefecture that began in 2011 and will celebrate its 16th edition in 2026. With the concept of “Coloring the city with jazz and art,” it has been embraced as a citywide event that turns various locations around Tottori City into stages, blending live performances with open-call artworks. Run by an organizing committee led by local musicians and students, it has become established as a venue that nurtures the region’s musical culture. The 2026 festival will be held from late April to early May.

May 1, 2026 “John Coltrane 100th Birthday Anniversary Concert” promotional video by the Detroit Jazz Festival
Tottori Jazz
ScheduleTuesday, April 28, 2026 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
place111 Higashishinajicho, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, around Tottori Station (multiple venues)
Appearance
【4/30】Chris Collins & the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Stars Generations Band【5/1】Chris Collins & the Detroit Jazz Festival All-Stars Generations Band
Websitehttp://tottorijazz.jp/
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Kagawa Prefecture

TAKAMATSU MUSIC BLUE FESMay 4 (Mon)–5 (Tue) Kagawa Prefecture

This music event, which began in Takamatsu City in 2011, is held under the banner “Music on the Street @ Kagawa” to enliven the city. On the first day, “MUSIC ON THE STREET” takes place across eight venues in the central downtown area, including Marugamemachi and in front of Takamatsu Station; on the second day, “MUSIC BY THE SEA” unfolds along the waterfront at Sunport—letting visitors enjoy both the city and the sea. A diverse lineup of performers from all genres brings color to street corners. Scheduled for May 2026, it is being organized in collaboration with UNESCO International Jazz Day 2026.

ScheduleMon, May 4, 2026 – Tue, May 5, 2026
placeTakamatsu Station Front Plaza, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
Appearance
[5/4] a smooth not misc. market / BOSSA feliz / Caipirinha / CALLING / Camui/Yosuke Kamui / Cocodrilo / COSMOS / Django Tigalle / fluff / Gold Sax Man / Hawai’ian vocal duo KAI / High Ball Lab. / Hygge / inu / IroMusica / jaja / LEPUS / LIBEREAL / Littlewings / nostalgie / OliveBranch / POPSEEDS / Premier / rookie1957@street / Schema / SKG Jazz Orchestra / spin-off / Steelband Peindre / Swing SAM / Thally / THE YELLOW / Tomoko Miki Trio / trick box / Winds Taka / Yuko Miyawaki Quintet / Apumashu / Ukulele Baby and Sax Dandy / Osakeños / OTOGI note / Kankara Ne-nes / Crystal D Kings / Crystal Harmony Jazz Orchestra / Sound Miki Jazz Orchestra / Chardonnay / Jungle Groove / Chanson 20th Arrondissement / Three Dogs / Dapper Sax Savers / Tora Trio / Natural Tone / Hatasuke / Harlequin with Friends / Kazu ki Furui / Beso de Novia / Matsu tomo / Marumushi Club / Mikatsuki / Miyudorasawa~ / Monodies / Yamaha Music Takamatsu Store YMS Student Band / Yosshy / Erhu Quartet Jie Jie Si / Hayato Sato & Miyami Araki / Hideki Kato / Typhoon / Sound of Four Seasons / Minoru Yamanaka / Eiji Shimada / Tokushima Samba Lab / Thursday Combo / Arisa Hashimoto & RFF trio / Utatteru / Reverberation / Mitsuko Nagata trio / Yuka Tsumura × Hayato Sato / Yuka Tsumura and Quis guitars / Walnut / Hanamuro / Kagawa University Jazz Research Society Birdland / Takamatsu Jazz Unit [5/5] Takeshi Obayashi Trio New Standards feat. Takumi Awaya, Shun Ishiwaka / STEREO CHAMP / Shiho with special friends / Yohei Hamabata / Chiaroscuro / Akabee / David Kondo Band / Elections / Hoi Hoi King / Hola Amigos / Mondou PROJECT / Orquesta Setouchi / Pink Panther☆ with O / POWELL / RED CLOUD with Sarah / SON DE HABANO / Soul Pain Soul / TANT / The Choir All Stars / The Tomikawa Five! / Westus & maino / youngman’z / Kamemushi Cola / Sururikos Brass Band / Cheeky Hey Hey / Tibichi / Habanero Voice / Famille Saxophone Quartet / Broccoli Orchestra / Mo-Let’s Princess / Yuuyu Band / Yahhataya / Sunset Brothers / Zashiki-warashi / Carefree Ensemble / Uminchu Family Band / Takako Fujimoto Trio / Ryu Nishimura / Music Therapy Group “WALKS” / Kochi Caribbean Hearts
Websitehttps://www.machikadomusic.net/2025/12/tmbf2026-entry/
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